Locking device for reclosable package

ABSTRACT

Package including a receptacle ( 2 ) extending along a central axis (Z) up to a top face ( 23 ) having an opening ( 24 ), a closure system ( 3 ) including a cover ( 31 ) mounted so as to be articulated thereat between an open position and a closed position, and a locking device ( 4 ) including a locking lug ( 41 ) that is elastically deformable towards the central axis (Z) fastened to the cover ( 31 ) and furnished with a snout ( 43 ), and a gripping edge ( 42 ) secured to the receptacle ( 2 ) with which the snout ( 43 ) engages in the closed position. The cover ( 31 ) has a recess ( 47 ) in which the locking lug ( 41 ) is arranged. The locking lug has an actuation zone ( 41   c ) that can be accessed via the mouth ( 47   a ) of the recess, and a tamper-proof cap ( 51 ) is immobilized relative to the cover ( 31 ) by at least one breakable connection ( 52 ) and is arranged facing the actuation zone ( 41   c ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application of International Application No. PCT/FR2008/050813, filed on May 7, 2008, which claims the benefit of French Patent Application No. 07 03395 filed on May 11, 2007, the entire contents of both applications being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a reclosable package, designed in particular for a food product, which has a device for locking the closure system. More particularly, the invention relates to a package comprising:

-   -   a container extending along a central axis from a base as far as         an upper face having an opening surrounded by a perimeter         extending basically in a horizontal plane;     -   a closure system comprising a lid mounted on the container in         hinged fashion between an open position and a closed position,         in which latter it covers the opening; and     -   a device for locking the lid in the closed position and         comprising firstly a locking lug which is elastically deformable         toward the central axis and extends from a base integral with         the lid as far as a free end provided with a nose, and secondly         a gripping rim integral with the container and protruding toward         the central axis and with which the nose engages in the closed         position.

Such locking produced by the nose of the elastic lug positively engaging with the gripping rim is generally sufficiently firm to hold the lid in the closed position even if the package is dropped, which is not always the case with a lid the inner periphery of which is simply frictionally engaged on the neck of the container. Moreover, handling of the locking tongue remains sufficiently simple and intuitive to obtain satisfactory ease of use. Such a locking device is known, for example, from the document U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,779.

Nevertheless, there exists a need to integrate such locking devices as much as possible into the overall volume of the container, both for esthetic reasons and for technical reasons. This is because a locking device as described in the document U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,779 protrudes from the box and this, in the case of packages, requires a greater volume and risks damage occurring during transportation.

In addition, in the case of packages for food products which are displayed in self-service shops, it is important to provide a tamperproof device which indicates whether the package has been opened. Numerous solutions for tamperproof devices exist, such as, for example, tear-off strips connecting the lid to the container. However, in the case of a large lid, this type of tear-off tamperproof strip may use up a relatively large amount of plastic and lead to the appearance of a relatively unesthetic hole in which dirt can accumulate in the course of use of the package. On the other hand, in the case of an elastically deformable locking member, it is prior art to provide tamperproofing by immobilizing said locking member by means of breakable bridging pieces before it is used for the first time, said bridging pieces connecting it directly to the lid. However, once these bridging pieces have been broken, rough plastic protrusions remain. These can interfere with each other during the actuation of this locking element or even come into contact with the user, causing a disagreeable sensation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved locking device, in particular by integrating it into the volume of the package, and to which a satisfactory tamperproof device may be joined.

To this end, the subject of the present invention is a package of the abovementioned type, characterized in that the lid has a depression that opens radially outward and adjacent to the container in the closed position, in which depression the locking lug is arranged, said locking lug having an actuating region between its base and its nose, said actuating region being accessible through the open side of the depression in order to move the nose toward the central axis, and in that a tamperproof cover is immobilized relative to the lid by at least one breakable connection and is arranged in front of the actuating region of the locking lug.

The integration of the locking lug into a depression in the lid implies that said locking lug and the gripping rim are arranged inside the overall external volume of the container, thereby avoiding protruding parts. Moreover, the tamperproof device consisting of the cover has dimensions corresponding at most to the open side of this depression and it is not necessary to provide breakable elements on the locking lug itself. There is thus no risk of the broken tamperproof device damaging the locking device or subsequently hampering its operation.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, use is furthermore made of one or other of the following arrangements:

-   -   the gripping rim is formed in the upper face of the container by         an elongate opening oriented perpendicularly to the central         axis;     -   the closure system further comprises a frame mounted on a neck         of the container and located close to the perimeter of the         opening, and the gripping rim is formed by a portion of the         inner perimeter of the frame;     -   the perimeter of the opening of the container is located at         least at the upper face of the frame, and there is a free space         between the portion of the frame forming the gripping rim and         the portion of the perimeter of the opening located radially         opposite this portion;     -   the locking lug delimits the bottom of the depression in the         lid;     -   the locking lug extends parallel to the central axis and has a         basically rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to         the central axis;     -   the tamperproof tab is arranged at the open side of the         depression in the lid and is shaped such that it extends flush         with the outer profile of the lid;     -   the tamperproof tab has a gripping member preferably consisting         of an indentation in the periphery of this tab;     -   said at least one breakable connection comprises a bridging         piece extending between the periphery of the tamperproof tab and         the open side of the depression in the lid, and preferably at         least three bridging pieces arranged so as to prevent any         pivoting of said tab without breaking at least one of the         bridging pieces; and     -   the closure system comprising the frame and the lid and also the         locking tongue and the tamperproof member are produced from one         piece of injection-molded plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package comprising a locking device according to the invention with a lid having a tamperproof cover in the open position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the package from FIG. 1 with the lid in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 in which the tamperproof cover has been removed; and

FIG. 4 is a view in partial section on a plane IV-IV which can be seen in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the various figures, identical reference numerals designate identical or similar elements.

FIG. 1 shows a package 1 comprising a container 2, a closure system 3, a locking device 4 and a tamperproof device 5.

The container 2 has a bottom 21, or base, from which an annular side wall 22 extends along a vertical central axis Z as far as an upper face 23. The upper face has a wide opening 24 surrounded by a perimeter 25. The perimeter 25 extends essentially in a horizontal plane coincident with the plane of the opening 24 and is formed by a collar extending radially toward the central axis Z. However, it is perfectly conceivable for this perimeter to be produced simply by the thickness of the material forming the side wall 22.

The container 2 has a basically rectangular cross section perpendicular to the central axis Z, with rounded corners. This cross section varies somewhat along the central axis Z in order to form a waist for gripping, but these variations remain limited in order to maintain the vertical strength of the packages when they are stacked. Also for gripping purposes, the cross section preferably is inscribed within a rectangle measuring 150 to 130 mm by 105 to 125 mm. The height from the base 21 to the upper face 23 is preferably between 130 and 170 mm in order to provide the customary volume for boxes intended to contain powdered baby milk. It is thus a relatively deep container, the opening 24 of which needs to be made as wide as possible in order to make it easier to extract powder from close to the bottom 21 of the container 2.

Due to this basically rectangular cross section, the perimeter 25 of the opening of the container 2 may be considered to have a first long side 25 a, a second opposing long side 25 b and first and second short sides 25 c, 25 d connecting the long sides.

The container 2 is produced in one piece from blow-molded plastic. This plastic is preferably a multilayer compound forming a very effective oxygen barrier when the product is milk powder, for example. However, it may, of course, be a container produced from another material, in particular metal or multilayer board.

In the case of milk powder, the opening 24 of the container 2 is closed by a membrane seal, not shown, which is sealed onto the perimeter 25. Thus, the milk powder is perfectly preserved in the container 2 until used for the first time when the membrane seal 26 is peeled off.

As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 4, the container 2 has a neck 28 between the top of its annular wall 22 and its upper face 23, which neck is stepped in places. As will be explained below, the presence of this neck enables the mounting of a frame for the closure system 3.

The closure system 3 first of all comprises a lid 31 having a relatively domed shape such that it may be considered to have a substantially flat upper portion 31 a and an annular peripheral portion 31 b substantially coaxial with the central axis Z.

The lid 31 also has an inner face 31 c oriented toward the opening 24 in the closed position, this inner face being basically dish-shaped due to the domed shape of the lid 31.

The closure system 3 further comprises a frame 32 mounted with a tight fit on the neck 28 of the container 2. The frame 32 is fastened nondetachably to this part of the container, in particular by snap fastening, but could also be fastened by adhesive bonding or welding.

The frame 32 has an external periphery 32 a continuing the side wall 22 of the container 2, followed by an inner horizontal wing 32 b which forms the upper face of this frame. The upper face 32 b of the frame extends in a plane parallel to the plane of the opening 24 comprising the perimeter 25, and slightly below this plane. The radially inner end of the wing 32 b constitutes the inner periphery of the frame 32 adjacent to the neck 28 of the container.

The upper face 32 b of the frame forms with the perimeter 25 of the opening 24 the upper face 23 of the container part.

The lid 31 and the frame 32 are hinged together by a connection 34 enabling the lid 31 to move with respect to the frame 32 and to the container 2 between an open position, shown in FIG. 1, in which the opening 24 is easily accessible, and a closed position, shown in FIG. 4, in which the lid 31 covers this opening. It is thus a reclosable package of which the lid is handled each time it is used, for example for preparing babies' bottles.

In this case the connection 34 is a hinge connection, the pivot axis P of which is perpendicular to the central axis Z. More precisely, the pivot axis P is parallel and located close to the first long side 25 a of the perimeter 25.

In the embodiment shown, it is a plastic hinge formed by a fold line enabling the lid 31 and the frame 32 to be produced as a single part. Said part is obtained by injection-molding a plastic, for example polypropylene. However, the hinge connection 34 could of course also be created as two separate parts joined together and it is likewise possible to provide some other type of connection between the frame and the lid, or even to do without a frame by employing a lid mounted removably on the neck 28 of the container 2.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the inner face 31 c of the lid has an annular belt 37 extending downward in the direction of the axis Z as far as a free edge 37 a arranged so as to be close to the perimeter 25 of the opening of the container 2 such that it increases the degree of closure of the container without, however, producing an airtight closure.

The locking device 4 comprises a lug 41 integral with the lid 31 and engaging with a rim 42 integral with the container 2. The locking device 4 is intended to prevent any accidental escape of product once the package has been opened for the first time when the membrane seal 26 has been peeled off, but is not intended to provide a sealed closure such as was obtained previously with the membrane seal.

More particularly, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the locking lug 41 extends vertically downward from a base 41 a as far as a free end 41 b located beneath the upper face 23 defined by the perimeter 25 of the container 2 and the upper face 32 b of the frame in the corresponding region. The locking lug 41 has a cross section in the form of a long rectangle the short side of which can be seen in FIG. 4 and the long side of which extends in a direction perpendicular to the central axis Z. Owing to this form and its plastic nature, the locking lug is elastically deformable toward the central axis Z. Specifically, by exerting pressure with the finger or thumb on an actuating region 41 c located on the radially outer face of the tongue 41 between its base 41 a and the end part located beneath the upper face 23 of the container part, the user easily obtains a deformation along the line indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 4.

It should be noted that the actuating region 41 c could have ergonomic reliefs. Moreover, the cross section of the lug 41 is not necessarily a perfect rectangle. The radially inner face of the lug 41 could have ribs for altering its rigidity and thus the force required to move the free end 41 b away from the gripping rim 42.

The free end 41 b of the tongue 41 has a nose 43 oriented radially outward with respect to the central axis Z. The nose 43 has basically the form of a protruding rib extending horizontally across the outer face of the locking lug 41 with a substantially triangular profile. The nose 43 thus has an upper face perpendicular to the lug 41 which is arranged so as to be immediately under the gripping rim 42 when not subjected to deformation and thus prevents the lid 31 from being opened. In addition, the nose 43 has an inner face inclined with respect to the vertical and enabling the lug 41 to be deformed when the lid is reclosed and enabling the nose 43 to move around the gripping rim 42 in order to attain the closed position shown in FIG. 4. However, in order to obtain such snap fastening, it is not absolutely necessary for the nose to have such a profile. Specifically, the nose 43 could have a different profile, for example be bead-shaped, in particular with a profile of the gripping rim 42 substantially different from a rectangle.

The gripping rim 42 protrudes toward the central axis Z so as to have a free end located close to the front face of the locking lug 41 and a lower face engaging with the upper face of the nose 43 to prevent the lid from being opened when the locking lug 41 is not deformed. In the embodiment shown, the gripping rim 42 consists of a portion of the frame 32 located opposite the locking lug 41 and more precisely of the inner periphery of the upper face 32 b of the frame. In order to enable the end 41 b of the locking lug to move, there is a free space 44 between the gripping rim 42 and a recessed portion 28 b of the neck 28 of the container 2. The upper face 23 of the container part thus has an opening consisting of the free space 44 within which the locking lug 41 may move. This opening 44 has no effect on the sealing of the container 2 sealed by a membrane seal. Nevertheless, it is perfectly conceivable for the gripping rim to be produced by means of a member protruding from the frame 32 or from the perimeter 25 of the container, or even by means of a hole through the perimeter 25 of the container 2, depending on the nature of the food product to be preserved or if there is an inner sealing device present.

It should be noted that the locking device 4 is arranged in a depression 47 formed in the side wall 31 b of the lid 31 and extending as far as the lower end of the lid. It is in this case a recessed portion of the outer wall of the lid 31 protruding basically toward the central axis Z and having an open side 47 a radially on the outside and delimited by the break in the geometry with the outer profile of the lid assembly. The depression 47 has substantially the form of a portion of sphere such that its open side 47 a seen from the front has a substantially semicircular form. However, the depression 47 could have a substantially different form, for example one which is deeper with a basically “U” shaped open side. The form of the depression 47 is, however, chosen such that its open side 47 b is wide enough for the user to be able to act with a finger on the actuating region 41 c of the locking lug 41.

The locking lug 41 is arranged in the depression 47 such that no part of it protrudes from the outer profile of the lid assembly. More precisely, in the embodiment shown, the locking lug 41 constitutes a part of the bottom of the depression 47 which is separated from the rest of the wall delimiting this depression by two vertical slots. This limits the depth of the depression 47 necessary for housing the locking lug 41 given that the annular belt 37 of the lid 31 forms a barrier limiting the possibility of product escaping.

As will be understood, the gripping rim 42 is also arranged in this depression when the lid 31 is in the closed position, due to the necessity of engaging with the nose 43 of the locking lug 41. Consequently, all of the locking device 4 is integrated in the outer profile of the lid assembly and even of the package assembly 1 because of the correspondence between the profile of the lid and of the container part when the lower end of the lid 31 is resting on the upper face 32 b of the frame 32.

The tamperproof device 5 comprises, for its part, a cover 51 arranged in the depression 47 in the lid, or slightly outside the latter, so as to prevent access, at least by hand, to the actuating region 41 c of the locking lug. The tamperproof cover 51 is held in place in front of the actuating region 41 c by breakable connections 52.

More particularly, in the embodiment shown the tamperproof cover 51 is in the form of a small plastic tab formed in one piece with the lid 31 by virtue of the breakable connections 52 which are in the form of bridging pieces.

The tamperproof cover 51 is arranged at the open side 47 a of the depression 47 and the small tab of which it consists is shaped such that it extends flush with the outer profile of the lid assembly 31. This gives the package a particularly attractive appearance and limits the possibility of its catching on any object during the course of its working life. Moreover, this embodiment of the tamperproof cover 51 requires a relatively small amount of plastic since the dimensions thereof do not exceed the surface area of the open side of the depression 47. Finally, the volume of the depression 47 may be reduced to a minimum in order for it to house only the locking device since the tamperproof device 5 does not extend into this depression.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the bridging pieces 52 which form the breakable connections extend between the outer periphery of the tamperproof cover 51 and the perimeter 47 a of the depression. Considering FIG. 3, it will be understood that even if the bridging pieces leave behind plastic barbs after breaking, these barbs are relatively far away from actuating region 41 c of the locking lug 41 and in any case do not interfere with the operation of this locking lug. There are four bridging pieces in this case, located on either side of the cover region 51 in front of the locking lug 41. However, the number of bridging pieces and their arrangement could, of course, be quite different, it being understood that three such bridging pieces are sufficient to effectively immobilize the tamperproof cover 51.

The tamperproof cover 51 could cover the entire surface area of the open side 47 a of the depression, it then being possible for the bridging pieces 52 to be broken when the cover is pushed into the depression 47. However, as can be gathered from FIG. 2, an indentation 53 is formed in the periphery of the tamperproof cover 51, in this case in the lower part of this cover close to the frame 32, with the aim of making it easier to remove this tamperproof device. By way of example, the indentation 53 may be designed to allow a fingertip to be partially inserted to tear off the cover 51 by an outward and upward movement. Of course, the indentation 53 could be located at another location. For example, in a variant which is not shown, it may be preferable to arrange the indentation 53 in a region of the cover 51 somewhat to the side of the actuating region 41 c of the locking lug, for example in the top part of the cover which is basically located in front of the base 41 a, in order to further reduce the possibility of actuating the locking tab 41 in particular by means of a sharp object. It could also be a slightly protruding relief enabling the tamperproof cover 51 to be grasped.

The working life of the package 1 may proceed in the following manner. Following injection molding of the closure device assembly 3 including the locking device 4 and tamperproof device 5, a single piece is obtained which may be configured in the closure position by closing the lid 31 on the frame 32. This configuration is preserved by virtue of the locking device and the tamperproof device.

The assembly thus constituted may then be easily mounted, for example by snap fastening, on the container 2 which has already been filled and membrane sealed. The package 1 is then ready to be sold. Any attempt to open it by hand will cause at least one of the breakable connections 52 to break, which will generally be easily detected by the consumer.

On first using the package, the user will break the breakable connections 52 of the tamperproof device 5 and will thus gain access to the locking device 4. By exerting pressure on the actuating region 41 c of the locking lug 41 and pulling gently upward, the user then brings the lid 31 into the open position.

Subsequently, by closing the package 1, that is by folding down the lid 31, locking is automatically brought about by the nose 43 snap fastening with the gripping rim 42. For a subsequent use, all that is required is to exert pressure again on the actuating region 41 c in order to release the locking device 4.

Of course, the embodiment described above is in no way limiting and numerous variants of the geometry of the components of the locking device and the tamperproof device can be produced without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1.-10. (canceled)
 11. A package for a food product, comprising: a container extending along a central axis from a base as far as an upper face having an opening surrounded by a perimeter extending basically in a horizontal plane; a closure system comprising a lid mounted on the container in hinged fashion between an open position and a closed position, in which latter it covers said opening (24); and a device for locking said lid in the closed position and comprising firstly a locking lug which is elastically deformable toward said central axis and extends from a base (41 a) integral with said lid as far as a free end (41 b) provided with a nose (43), and secondly a gripping rim integral with said container and protruding toward said central axis and with which said nose engages in the closed position, wherein said lid has a depression that opens radially outward at an open side, and adjacent to said container in the closed position, in which depression said locking lug is arranged, said locking lug having an actuating region (41 c) between its base and its nose, said actuating region being accessible through said open side (47 a) of the depression in order to move said nose toward said central axis, and wherein a tamperproof cover is immobilized relative to said lid by at least one breakable connection and is arranged in front of said actuating region (41 c) of said locking lug.
 12. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said gripping rim is formed in said upper face of the container by an elongate opening oriented perpendicularly to said central axis.
 13. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said closure system further comprises a frame mounted on a neck of said container and located close to said perimeter of the opening, and wherein said gripping rim is formed by a portion of the inner perimeter of said frame (32).
 14. The package as claimed in claim 12, wherein said closure system further comprises a frame mounted on a neck of said container and located close to said perimeter of the opening, and wherein said gripping rim is formed by a portion of the inner perimeter of said frame (32), and wherein said perimeter of the opening of said container is located at least at said upper face (32 b) of the frame (32), and wherein there is a free space between the portion of said frame forming said gripping rim and the portion of said perimeter of the opening located radially opposite said portion.
 15. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said locking lug delimits the bottom of said depression in said lid (31).
 16. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said locking lug extends parallel to said central axis and has a basically rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to said central axis.
 17. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said tamperproof cover is arranged at said open side (47 a) of the depression in said lid and is shaped such that it extends flush with the outer profile of said lid.
 18. The package as claimed in claim 17, wherein said lid and said tamperproof tab also extend flush with the upper part of said container (2).
 19. The package as claimed in claim 17, wherein said tamperproof cover has a gripping member preferably consisting of an indentation in the periphery of said cover.
 20. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one breakable connection comprises a bridging piece extending between the periphery of said tamperproof cover and said open side (47 a) of the depression in said lid arranged so as to prevent any pivoting of said cover without breaking at least one of said bridging pieces.
 21. The package as claimed in 20, wherein at least three bridging pieces are provided.
 22. The package as claimed in claim 11, wherein said closure system comprising said frame and said lid and also said locking lug and said tamperproof cover are produced from one piece of injection-molded plastic.
 23. The package as claimed in claim 12, wherein said closure system further comprises a frame mounted on a neck of said container and located close to said perimeter of the opening, and wherein said gripping rim is formed by a portion of the inner perimeter of said frame (32).
 24. The package as claimed in claim 12, wherein said locking lug delimits the bottom of said depression in said lid (31).
 25. The package as claimed in claim 13, wherein said locking lug delimits the bottom of said depression in said lid (31).
 26. The package as claimed in claim 14, wherein said locking lug delimits the bottom of said depression in said lid (31).
 27. The package as claimed in claim 12, wherein said locking lug extends parallel to said central axis and has a basically rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to said central axis.
 28. The package as claimed in claim 13, wherein said locking lug extends parallel to said central axis and has a basically rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to said central axis.
 29. The package as claimed in claim 14, wherein said locking lug extends parallel to said central axis and has a basically rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to said central axis.
 30. The package as claimed in claim 15, wherein said locking lug extends parallel to said central axis and has a basically rectangular cross section oriented perpendicularly to said central axis. 